The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-04-02
A PIRATE" LOVER.
He Thought Ailsa "Weel Worth
a. the Trouble"

Pretty Ailsa Macfarlane, sitting all
in white upon the broad gray stone
steps of her home, with the afternoon
sunlight falling upon the glimmering
gold Of her hair, was lovely picture,
and one which it seemed pity should
remain unseen. But the little cottage,
in itself picturesque and attractive to
an unusual degree, was situated sew
eral miles from Victoria, fronting upon
the broad eXpanse of Puget Sound, and
the public roadway ran by some dis
tance in the rear of the house. A view
of the front of the cottage, therefore,
was never obtained by casual passers-by
except such as travelled by water and
near the shore, and these were not
many.
1t was toward the sound that Ailsa
was gazing now, and with so earnest
an attention that she seemed to give no
heed to what might be passing nearer
at hand. Yet the broad sweep of water
for once presented such an appearance
of monotony, through the almost total
absence of the myriad of sailing craft
which usually dot its surface that it
seemed difficult TO imagine what could
attract so intense gaze. Far to. the
south the sunlight did glitter with al
most dazzling brightness upon the
snow-white canvas of solitary craft,
but at this, which was so distant that
it was impossible to make out whether
its rig was that of a schooner, sloop or
yawl, it scarcely seemed like any one
would be gazing with such earnest
interest.
Out through the porch came at last
n tall, gray-haired man of middle age,
in whom Ailsa recognized her uncle
and guardian, Captain Duncan Macfar-
lane, of Her Majcsty's Colonial Reve-
nue. Service. In his hand he carried a
marine telescope of portentous size and
appearance, and his first words to his
niece were:
"Ailsa, lass, l have just been up in
the tower" referring to a gaunt,
pigeon coop looking arrangement
which projected slightly above the
roof of the cottage, watching that sail
We can see far down there to the south
But either my eyes are getting bad in.
deed or l cant focus the glass right
for l can't make her out at all. But
you. lass, your eyes are young and
stronghold you and tell me what yor
see."
He handed the glass to Ailsa, who
took it with something which seemed
like suppressed eagerne>s. With he
there seemed no difficulty about adjust
ing the focus and in moment she hat
the glass to her eye and fixed upon tn,
-white-sailed stranger.
abr she exclaimed, after mo
ment's intent scrutiny, but it was diff
cult to define what emotion the ejacu
lation expressed.
"Well, welln exclaimed her uncle
whey xcited the Scotch always cam
str TO the surface-"speak, lass
W at IS it ye see?"
%\'l a sloop, uncle" replied the gin
at last; "a large sloop, with tall toT
sail and a very long bowsprit"
"And the ensign?" queried Capital
Macfarlane eagerly. Can we see thai
or does she carry anyP"
at is very small" answered Ais;
still vita her eye to the glass; 81 ca
not MAKE it out exactly, but l think,
she continued, musingly and in lo'
tone, the words seeming to be rattle
addressed to herself than her Listener
81 think-oh, yes, it must be an Anne
lean flag"
If old Captain Macfarlane had NJ
been so intent upon his own ideas /
might have noticed that there was
TO of something like joyous excite
men' her voice as she spoke the In
We be only EXCLAIMED: